Weekend climb over Strawberry Pass, CA (picture heavy)

[eurosonic]

Last Saturday woke up in the morning and felt the calling!
Quickly packed up, grabbed whatever was in fridge and pantry and took off to the mountains. Of course had to stop by and get some brewskies and water

This time we're off to a relatively local trail, about 80 miles east from Sacramento, down Highway 50 towards South Lake Tahoe. Trail is named Strawberry Pass, which reaches out from Highway 50 to Caples Lake, on Highway 88. Highest elevation was a bit over 8600 feet.

Trail was right up the alley for my vehicles capability, although at one time I almost turned around. Clearance was the biggest concern. For the most part it is a very scenic climb, beautiful views, enchanted like forest passes, numerous stream crossings. Passed by many good places to break camp.

For navigation purposes I took my Ipad 3 with newly installed Topo Maps. I am so impressed by that software, probably one of the best $8 bucks that I ever spent on a map. IMO its worth much more than that. It was a great mapping tool, it kept us on the right track the entire time. GPS signal was always on the dot. I have the 3G model w/o data plan. I bought the iPad for this exact reason. Preloaded the USGS maps for the entire region and programmed in the GPS waypoint coordinates from home. Without it I probably would get lost due to many dead-end splits in the trail.


Any ways, here are picture from the trip

(photo eqp used: Canon 5D MK1 w/ 24-70L lens, iPhone 4.



Fueling up

Got off at mile marker 42

Many fancy cabins were all over place

iPad ******

Got off the pavement

First few miles were pretty smooth

Many passing's like this

This sign is on the trail turnoff

Finally begun to go up hill

First few rock obstacles

Removed the sway bar right before the trip, so it was a good time to test the new articulation

Face rock

Trail turning pretty rocky here

Had to stop for a bit and cool off, transmission was over heating. Will have to examine later

Passed a ton of dips with streams like this one

Ok, so here we got to a point called Painted Rock. Im glad I had a rear locker for this one. Had to go over this guy before I got to a giant boulder in the middle, which had almost no room to go around it. Only way to go was thought it.

Made it over the first part ok

 

[eurosonic]

Here is the rock, what a pain in the A**

Came ‘this' close to tippin over

Had to put up a platform so the rig wouldn't roll over. This where a taller truck with better articulation would benefit.

Ended up resting on the transmission shield and struggle for traction.

After a bit of wrestling finally made it through, left a good markunk03:

Coming up to a part called the Squeeze, this is where a full size rig would have trouble getting through. Was indeed a squeeze between the rock and the tree. Easy to damage the right quarter panel if not careful. Saw plenty of bruise marks on the tree and the rock.

After, got pretty mellow going up

Wouldn't want to end up there

Some scenery

Got to this place, pretty nasty clay like mush. Quickly filled the tire tread with this stuff

Some more nasty mud, thank God I didn't get stuck here.

Had to rest a bit and let the wife drive

this was pretty much the tip of the mountain, begun to cruise downhill from here

 

[eurosonic]

Stopped for a break for a nice panorama

Was gona camp here, but decided to keep driving

Kirkwood Ski resort

Came up to this creepy barn

Drove by some giant solar panels

Snow equipment garages

Ahh asphalt, highway 88

Caples lake

Stopped by Kirkwood Ski resort drive in

Ok so it got pretty dark, Caples lake and surrounding lakes camping spot were way too over developed (and expensive), where is camping/wildeness fun in that? So decided to head out to good ol’ family camping spot at Utica/Union reservoir in Bear Valley. Home of the Slick Rock 4x4 Trail.

 

[eurosonic]

It was pitch black outside on Highway 4, perfect time to test out the Blitz Lightforce 240s. WOW, what a difference. Still have to adjust the beam angles a bit.

Low beam with crappy bulbs.

High-beams

Lightforce 240s only

Lightforce 240s plus high-beams

Arrived at Utica Reservoir, unpacked tent and went to sleep.
Morning time!

Battle scars

Breakfast – omelet with fresh tomato and espresso.

Morning stretch

Time to eat and enjoy the day

Went to see what Slick Rock was all about

When I got this quickly realized that my rig and I are definitely not ready to go thought something like this. The jeeps with huge clearance were having a hard time.

So turned around and went back, maybe next time.

Here is a quick iPhone vid leaving the Slick Rock trail. Going over the easier part, nothing fancy, rest of the trail was way out of my league.


Stayed till sunset, had some tea by the fire and took off back home.

 

[Clem]

Great Local Report

eurosonic,

Great trip report. Looks like you and the little lady had a great weekend. :sombrero:

Thanks for the inspiration,

Clem

 

[Hill Bill E.]

Awesome report! Nice rig too!

 

[mrwizard]

Very cool trip. Some amazing territory in your neck of the woods.

 

[nwoods]

Great report. Your iPad holder setup is quite nice

I have a good buddy who recently moved to the SF with a nice rig and looking to explore trails just like that with another vehicle. He's in a lifted 4Runner with 33" KM2's. It's only 90 minutes or so from Sac, right?

 

[eurosonic]

thanks everyone,
it is a great drive for a moderately built rig. Highly recommend it to everyone:smiley_drive:

Great report. Your iPad holder setup is quite nice

I have a good buddy who recently moved to the SF with a nice rig and looking to explore trails just like that with another vehicle. He's in a lifted 4Runner with 33" KM2's. It's only 90 minutes or so from Sac, right?

Nwoods,

yes, its about an hour away from sac. Have your buddy message me next time he want to head out. It would be nice to have another rig join in.

There are numerous of other trails to explore around that area.

 

[soonenough]

Great report! Just read through your build thread, I really like your Montero :drool:

 

[mmcan]

Transmission overheating

Awesome report!

I had a similar "transmission overheating" issue with my Rubicon last summer on Taylor Pass. Contacted a local Jeep dealership and spoke with their service dept. They recommended running in 4 Low because the gearing takes a lot of the work load off the transmission and lets the transfer case do it more efficiently. Had no further problems after that, altho I have since installed a tranny cooler anyway because I'll be pulling an AT Chaser this summer.

 

[GHOSTFJ]

http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/eldorado/home/?cid=STELPRDB5362046

That trail is closed. Any use of said trail is illegal. I, like many others are not pleased but not abiding by the court order will only give the other side gasoline for the fire.

 

[eurosonic]

That trail is closed. Any use of said trail is illegal. I, like many others are not pleased but not abiding by the court order will only give the other side gasoline for the fire.

Interesting,
When I was there, nowhere I saw a sign of the trail being closed.

 

[GHOSTFJ]

Like many trails, there are no signs or gates. Checking for trail conditions and status is up to us, we need to educate one another.

 

[eurosonic]

Looks like that order went in effect on July 11 and lasting until August 31, 2012.

At the time of my trip it was still open.

Well, lets hope they will open it for good